NYICFF- 2021 N.Y. International Children’s Film Festival
NYICFF, The 2021 New York International Children’s Film Festival will be completely virtual for the first time ever. My family loves going to see a film screening every year. We are thrilled that the festival will be held online giving everyone a chance to watch from the comfort and safety of home. This year’s film slate focuses on young people which is particularly important in a time when so many young people are struggling to make sense of an unprecedented year of worry.
NYICFF runs March 5-14, and will provide families across the country access to the best animated, live action, documentaries and shorts from around the world.
Passes go on sale to members on February 19, and to the general public on February 26.
**Disclosure- the information in this article is provided from a NYICFF press release.
From NYICFF:
“We’re a little heartbroken that we can’t physically be with our audience this year, seeing their reaction to each film and engaging directly with them in the conversations that the films inspire,” said NYICFF Executive Director Nina Guralnick. “At the same time, I couldn’t think of a more vital moment to connect kids and families across the country with meaningful programming.”
“In this challenging cultural moment, young people are hungry for a sense of connection—to their histories, to each other, and to possibility—across races and cultures,” said Director of Programming Maria Christina Villaseñor. “The 14 feature programs in NYICFF’s 2021 slate provide a crucial connection for young audiences via deeply talented filmmakers who honor the intelligence of kids and families and capture their stories with nuance, thoughtfulness, and joyful promise.”
As in years past, NYICFF 2021 features a wide range of films spanning topics and continents: from a magical realist family drama in the Curaçao countryside (Buladó) and a land battle in the Mohawk Nation of Quebec (Beans) to time traveling 12-year-olds 70 years apart (The Fantastic Journey of Margot and Marguerite) and an ecowarrior cat spirit (The Legend of Hei). The slate of bold new narratives, animated films, and true-to-life stories celebrates the intricacies and importance of representation and cultural identity.
“We’ve always felt a responsibility to present our programming to young audiences as a path to mutual understanding, to a heightened awareness of the world beyond their experience, and a deeper exploration of their own identity,” said Guralnick. “And we truly have something for everyone—if you’re seeking a madcap adventure to take you out of your pandemic routine or you want an entry point to a larger family discussion on race and identity, the Festival is an opportunity to discover worlds beyond your four walls.”
NYICFF FEATURE FILM SLATE:
The 2021 film slate offers a reflection of the Festival’s mission to present films that highlight examples of the myriad cultures and the shared humanity that comprise the world its audience lives in.”
BEANS (CANADA)- Tracey Deer, 2020, 92 min. Ages 14+
In the summer of 1990, Beans, a studious twelve-year-old Mohawk girl, is suddenly forced to grow up fast. She becomes her own kind of warrior when a land occupation battle creates a fierce stand-off between her indigenous community and the government. Torn between innocent childhood and reckless adolescence, she struggles to build her own identity amidst the chaos of the uprising and the injustice of a world that sees her as different even in her own land. Will she succumb to the pressures of a society intent on bringing her down? Or will she rise up to assert her strength and character?
THE BEARS’ FAMOUS INVASION (FRANCE, ITALY)- Lorenzo Mattotti, 2019, 82 min. Ages 10+
French with English Subtitles
Based on the Italian book and beautifully animated in warm Meditteranean colors and bold shapes, this feature from Cannes is a whimsical allegory. The narrators frame a wondrous tale of the great bear king Léonce and his clan. To find his lost son Tonino and food to survive the winter, he leads them down from the mountains and into the world of humans. The bears and humans exist together in peace – for a time.
BULADÓ (NETHERLANDS, CURAÇAO)—INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
Eché Janga, 2020, 86 min, Ages 11+
Papiamento and Dutch with English Subtitles
Headstrong Kenza lives with her father Ouira and grandfather Weljo on a beautifully situated plot of land that doubles as a car wrecking yard on the coast of Curaçao. Ouira is a no-nonsense police officer with an eye toward the future, while his father Weljo finds meaning in the past through the spirituality of his African ancestors and the island’s native inhabitants. Meanwhile, 11-year-old Kenza seeks to find her own place, and identity. Her search takes flight as she gravitates toward the mystical traditions of her grandfather.
CALAMITY (FRANCE, DENMARK)- Rémi Chayé, 2020, 85 min, Ages 8+
French with English subtitles
It’s 1863 and 12-year-old Martha Jane and her family are headed West across the United States in search of a better life. After her father is hurt in a serious accident, she takes charge of her siblings and also learns to drive the family wagon. Martha Jane trades her constricting skirts for the ease of boys’ breeches and never looks back. Her unconventional style and brazenness don’t sit well with the pioneer community, and when the leader of the convoy wrongly accuses her of theft, she runs away to find proof of her innocence. In the Wild, she discovers herself and a world which shapes her into the mythical and mysterious Calamity Jane.
CURTAIN UP! (US)- Hui Tong & Kelly Ng, 2019, 69 min. Ages 8+
English; additional dialogue in Mandarin with English subtitles
5th grader William who is all energy and opinion seems excited to burst beyond his constraints. His classmate Charlotte, a measured thinker, admits that sometimes it’s easier to be scared than happy. Both students adore theater class and are set to have a transformative final year of elementary school. This award-winning documentary follows a 5th grade class at PS 124 in New York City’s Chinatown as they prepare for a big musical production of “Frozen Kids” and begin to discover their identities. Behind the scenes, nervous excitement and flubbed lines brushes up against stereotypes, family expectations, and post-graduation uncertainties. While rehearsing for this American favorite, the young actors grapple with their Asian roots. Will they have to let something go?
JACKIE & OOPJEN (NETHERLANDS)—NEW YORK PREMIERE
Annemarie van de Mond, 2020, 90 min. Ages 8+
Dutch with English subtitles
Twelve-year-old Jackie has made Amsterdam’s world famous Rijksmuseum her second home. since her mother is always busy at her job there. As Jackie wanders the museum after hours, Oopjen Coppit, the woman depicted in Rembrandt’s famous 1634 painting, suddenly steps out of the canvas and into the gallery. Jackie decides to take Oopjen under her wing and help her search for her missing sister. Oopjen, a woman from the Golden Age, finds the 21st century to be a big adventure while Jackie finally finds a true friend.
THE FANTASTIC JOURNEY OF MARGOT AND MARGUERITE (FRANCE)—US PREMIERE
Pierre Coré, 2020, 89 min., Ages 10+
French with English subtitles
Marguerite and Margot have a lot in common: both are 12 years old and missing their fathers. The one big difference? One lives in 1942, the other in 2020. Or at least that’s the case until the discovery of a magical trunk in an attic that sends them traveling through time. Margot and Marguerite’s fathers are no longer there. One dad vanished during World War II, the other is not living at home. With 70 years apart, they embark on a wild adventure to find their present, explore history and their families’ memories, while managing the transition to becoming teens!
THE LEGEND OF HEI (CHINA)—NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE/WORLD PREMIERE
English-language Version
MTJJ Mutou, 2019, 101 min. Ages 9+
With an inky black coat, adorable mewl, and eyes as big as saucers, Xiao Hei is the cutest feline around. But he’s more than just a cat. When he meets up with a motley band of spirits—creatures and human-like beings with superhuman powers—Hei finds that he, too, is a spirit and shapeshifts from cat to kid form. His new friends train him in the warrior spirit arts, with the goal of saving their beloved forest from developers. The Legend of Hei is a winsome combination of heart, soul, fantasy, and an extraordinary adventure.
The winner of audience awards at NYICFF year after year, Magic Light Pictures gets a full spotlight this year. A feature of their newest film and an encore of The Snail and The Whale by popular demand:
MAGIC LIGHT CELEBRATION: ZOG AND THE FLYING DOCTORS + THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE (UK, SOUTH AFRICA) Ages 3+
ZOG & THE FLYING DOCTORS- NEW YORK PREMIERE
Sean Mullen, 2020, 24 min.
ZOG and the Flying Doctors picks up where Zog left off, as Princess Pearl achieves her dreams of being a doctor. Together with Zog the dragon and Sir Gadabout, the flying trio criss-cross the kingdom giving vaccinations to creatures of all stripes. But Pearl’s uncle, the orange-faced King, is doubtful, disapproving and ends up sick. Will he learn to trust in Pearl and science, and rethink what it means to be royal?
THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE
Max Lang & Daniel Snaddon, 2019, 27 min.
When a tiny snail longs to see the world, it hitches a ride on a great big, grey-blue humpback whale. Together they go on an amazing, gloriously animated journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins. Size seems like strength to the snail but when the whale is beached, it’s the tiny snail who just might save the day.
MOOMINVALLEY: THE HOBGOBLIN TRILOGY
FINLAND/UK—NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Steve Box, 2019, 66 min. Ages 5+
Moominmania is back at NYICFF! The Moomin Hobgoblin Trilogy brings thrills and delight right from the start as Moomintroll finds a magical hat with some surprising properties.
MY DAD IS A HEEL WRESTLER (JAPAN)
Kyohei Fujimura, 2018, 110 min. Ages 9+
Japanese with English subtitles
9-year-old Shota’s dad was a star top-tier pro wrestler until age and injuries dropped him to the B-league of wrestling. Shota believes his dad is still number one, until he makes a shocking discovery. His father is not a hero wrestler but the villain (heel) everyone loves to hate. Can Shota’s father take off his mask and learn that there are more important things than saving face? Can Shota learn that real heroes don’t always don the guise we think?
NAHUEL AND THE MAGIC BOOK (CHILE, BRAZIL)—NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Germán Acuña, 2019, 99 min. Ages 8+
Spanish with English subtitles
Life in Nahuel’s seaside town revolves around the ocean, which makes his fear of water a challenge. What’s worse, he can’t help his fisherman father on his boat. One day, Nahuel finds a magical book, the Levisterio, that seems to offer a solution to this problem. But a dark sorcerer is after the book and captures Nahuel’s father to set a trap. Guided by Fresia, a shaman’s daughter, Nahuel journeys to rescue his father and find courage from within.
SISTERS: THE SUMMER WE FOUND OUR SUPERPOWERS (NORWAY)—NY PREMIERE
Silje Salomonsen & Arild Østin Ommundsen, 2020, 77 min. Ages 7+
Norwegian with English subtitles
Vega, 9, and her wild sister Billie, 5, are going on an overnight outdoor hike in the lush Norwegian woods. The trip is full of exciting climbs, silly jokes, and happy trekking until Dad pulls one acrobatic stunt too many. He falls into a cave and injures his leg badly. Unable to move, he asks Vega and Billie to get help. The duo bravely face their fears, discover their superpowers, and find strength in their sisterhood.
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON (US)-
Don Hall & Carlos López Estrada, 2021- Rated PG
Walt Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon travels to the fantasy world of Kumandra. Here humans and dragons lived together long ago in harmony. When an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned. It’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world. It’s going to take trust and teamwork as well.
**NYICFF will offer audiences a closing night screening and exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Raya and the Last Dragon. The screening will spotlight Disney’s latest animated feature and the research and artistry that went into it.
Additional programming announcements are forthcoming and you can learn more by following NYICFF Social Channels:
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ABOUT NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL:
The New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF) is now in its 24th year. NYICFF supports the creation and dissemination of a more intelligent, diverse film culture for young viewers that sparks dialogue and understanding through film. A year-round organization, NYICFF cultivates an appreciation for the arts, encourages active viewing, stimulates discussion, and expands cultural access. Through its FilmEd program, National Touring Program, Oscar ® -qualifying annual Film Festival, and Industry Forum, NYICFF serves children, families, filmmakers, classrooms, and cultural organizations.
New York International Children’s Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.